By: Chinedum Ohnusi

The 2025 edition of the FCT School Sports fiesta is back with the Zonal Elimination Series, underway at eight centres - a. Abaji - GSTC Abaji & GSS Abaji (b). Kwali Zone - GSS Kwali & GSTC Kwali (c). Gwagwalada - GSS Gwagwalada & GDSS Gwagwalada (d).Kuje Zone - GSS Kuje (e). Tunga Maje - GSSS Tunga Maje. (f). Dutse Zone - GSS Kubwa and GDSS Dutse (g). AMAC - GSS Tudun Wada & GSS Garki. (h). Karu Zone - GSS Karu and GDSS Karu.

The fiesta which was  resuscitated last year, 
after about 28 years in the cooler, by the current FCT Administration, have also had the 2025 edition christened the Barrister Nyesom Wike Renewed Hope  School Sports Festival.

Like the last edition, this year's competition is open to both public and private schools, in three categories - Primary (U-13 years), Junior Secondary (15 years & under), and Senior Secondary Schools category (17 years & under).

In a statement, the Director School Sports in the FCT, Mallam Hashimu Adamu Ojar gave details of the festival template of events and the categories:

*A. Primary:*
Track Events; 100m, 200m, 400m, 4x100 relay & Mixed Relay.

Field Events; Long Jump & High Jump.
Games; Football (Boys only) & Handball (Girls Only)

*B. Juniors:*
Track Events; 100m, 200m, 400m, 800m, 150Om, 4x100 & 4x400 & Mixed Relays.

Field Events; Long  Jump, High Jump & Javelin.

Games: Football, Flag Football, Volleyball & Handball.

*C. Seniors:*
Field Events; Long Jump, High Jump, Shotput, Javelin & Discuss

Games: Football, Volleyball and Handball. Badminton, Basketball
and Table Tennis.

Flag Football and Cricket at this level will just be for
demonstration.

Track Events; 10Om, 200m, 400m, 800m, 1500m, 3000m, 4x100 & 4x400 & Mixed Relays.

D. Board Games (Boys & Girls):
Chess (Senior & Junior Schools)
Scrabble (Senior & Junior Schools)
Ludo (Junior School)
Ayo (Primary School)

In preparation for these, a series of meetings were held to propose dates for the activities; and School Sports Committee meetings were also escalated to inspect and certify facilities at the zonal centres, before they were given the all clear to host.

Similarly, there were 
Games Masters/Mistresses Seminar held in 5 Zones of the FCT from Wednesday 22nd – Monday 27th January, 2025. 

Below were the dates per Zones/Centre:-
a. Abaji Zone at
GSSS Abaji
b. Kwali/Kuje Zone - GSS Kwali
c. G/lada.& T/Maje Zone - GSS G/Lada
d. Dutse/Tudun Wada Zone - GSS Tudun Wada -
e. Karu/Karshi Zone GSS Karu.

Zonal Preliminaries shall be held from Monday February 3rd - Friday February 14th. The festival shall then observe a break from Saturday February 15th - 17th, 2025.

Grand Finale at the MKO Abiola National Stadium, in Abuja is from Monday 24th - Wednesday 26th and Thursday 27th February 2025.